Authorities arrest second suspect in fatal home invasion following standoff

Emergency crews on scene following standoff in Knightsville. (Source: WCSC)

Scene of the home invasion. Photo Source: Live 5

Scene of the home invasion. Photo Source: Live 5

(L-to-R) Glen Lane II, Matthew Granger (Source: BCDC)

MONCKS CORNER, SC (WCSC) -

Authorities say they have arrested second suspect in a fatal Moncks Corner home invasion following a standoff at a home in Knightsville.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office says Matthew Grainger was arrested Monday night in connection to the fatal Moncks Corner home invasion on Sunday that took the life of 32-year-old Mark Connor.

Grainger is being charged with murder, conspiracy, burglary first degree, six counts of kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and a bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

The sheriff's office had already arrested Glenn Randall Lane II and charged him with murder, conspiracy, first-degree burglary and six counts of kidnapping.

Investigators with the BCSO say they received information of a possible location of one of the suspects, Grainger, involved in the home invasion which happened on McCrystal Circle.

"Members of the US Marshal Task Force with the assistance of the DCSO responded to a residence located in Knightsville, SC in an attempt to locate the suspect," officials with the sheriff's office said.

When the US Marshals and Dorchester County deputies made contact with people inside the home it was confirmed that Grainger was inside the residence and had barricaded himself in the attic and refused to exit and surrender to authorities, according to the BCSO.

SWAT was then notified and responded to the scene, and when they arrived on scene, Grainger continued to refuse to cooperate and exit the attic of the home, authorities say.

"After authorities issued numerous commands to the suspect to exit the residence, the decision was made to introduce chemical munitions (gas) into the residence in an attempt to get the suspect to exit the attic and surrender to authorities," the sheriff's office said."Upon irritants being introduced the suspect Matthew Grainger exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident."

"Sheriff Duane Lewis would like to thank all agencies involved in the apprehension of the suspect Matthew Grainger in this case," stated a release by the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office.

Earlier in the day, BCSO officials announced the arrest of Glen Randall Lane II, who authorities say was arrested 12 hours following the home invasion. Lane faces charges of murder, conspiracy, first-degree burglary and six counts of kidnapping.

Officials with the sheriff's office say more arrests are expected in the case.

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-274-6372 or the sheriff's office at 843-719-4412.

Coroner Bill Salisbury identified the victim on Monday as 32-year-old Mark Connor who died at Trident Hospital Sunday morning. The delay in releasing the identity of the victim, Salisbury said, was because of the time required to locate and notify Connor's next of kin.

Around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, deputies responded to a home invasion at 512 McCrystal Circle and found Connor with a single gunshot wound.

According to investigators, the incident happened between 7 a.m. and 7:20 a.m.

Detectives say additional victims from the scene reported that several people, including a female subject, broke into the home while the residents were asleep and began using pepper-spray around the home.

When the suspects confronted the victim, one of the suspects shot the victim, according to an arrest warrant.

According to the sheriff's office, the suspects were known by the victims and were quickly identified.

Investigators say there were four suspects total, two of whom were armed with handguns.

When deputies arrived they found Connor lying on the front porch and a woman attempting to help him.

The arrest warrant states Lane was identified as one of the suspects who participated. He was arrested within 12 hours of the incident.

Berkeley County detectives are continuing to search for leads in the shooting.

"Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis stated that he was pleased by Lane’s quick apprehension and indicated that the additional arrests are forthcoming," stated a release by the sheriff's office.

A report states that members of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office have responded to 67 calls for service at the incident location since Jan. 1, 2014.